Shadow Reality
		    Chapter Two: Rats and Cats


	Ranma played with a strand of golden hair, watching his fiancee sleep. What 
he found so intriguing was that she was actually asleep. The training both 
he and Nabiki received didn't allow such a state. Their 'sleep' was actually 
a complex meditation technique that had the same results, more or less, as 
sleeping. To learn the technique took days, however actually training the 
body took far longer. The first step required all conscious thought to be 
brought to a halt, this allowed the body to go into it's natural healing 
state. Secondly the sub-conscious had to be aware of the outside world. To 
monitor the ki levels, air pressure, unusual sounds, anything that might 
give rise to a threat. When triggered, the consciousness was pulled back 
online and the choice was made to wake up or return to the meditative state, 
still appearing to be asleep while this was happening. That was the 
trickiest part of it. The only difference the technique had to actually 
sleeping was that the user never dreamed. In addition, once the technique 
had been mastered it was thought impossible to ever naturally sleep again.

	Nabiki made sound and her hand twitched, causing her fiance to laugh. "Are 
you dreaming Nabiki-chan?" He asked the sleeping figure softly. There was no 
response, but he hadn't been expecting one. "What's it like?" He continued 
speaking to the unconscious figure. "What are you dreaming about?" Letting 
the silky gold slip from his fingers he brushed a hand across her pale face. 
"The past maybe? The future?" His voice fell silent and he continued 
watching her. The alarm clock rang. Reaching over her he shut it off.

	A soft sigh escaped Nabiki's lips and she opened her eyes slowly. She 
smiled at Ranma, then yawned and stretched her arms out. "Nyow?" She 
sounded, curling against him.

	"You don't talk much in this form." His only response was another beautiful 
smile. "Were you dreaming?" A nod. "What was it like?"

	"Like another world." Her musical voice flowed pleasantly, more of a 
sensation then a sound.

	Abstaining from any more indulgence on curiosity�s behalf, Ranma sat up. 
"We better get downstairs before Akane wakes up. Can't have her seeing you 
like that."


	"When's the wedding?" Akane asked Ranma during breakfast.

	Ranma looked over at Nabiki, who shrugged. "We haven't really set a date 
yet." She told her younger sister. When she and Ranma did marry, it would 
bring an extreme change to both their lives. It was a change Nabiki wanted 
desperately, but was unsure if she was ready. A child at seventeen years old 
might not be the best idea.

	"Why not?" Akane asked, absently tugging on a bit of her long hair.

	"No reason to," She easily lied, "As long as I don't get pregnant there's 
no hurry." Akane blushed lightly at the response. Or more specifically, the 
thought of how Nabiki would get to that stage.

	"Nabiki, you really should get married if you and Ranma are going to... 
'sleep' together." Kasumi chided gently.

	"Sis, if we followed that rule we would have been married a long time ago." 
Nabiki laughed and Akane turned even redder. Since when had her imagination 
been that good?

	"Shouldn't be thinking about your sister's fiance like that Akane-chan." 
Ranma said as he watched her turn crimson.

	"I wasn't!" Akane protested weakly.

	"Honestly Akane, all those boys and yet you want my Ranma?" Nabiki looked 
on with a grin as Akane became more flustered.

	"Nabiki! How could you say that? I would never..." Akane trailed off. They 
were laughing. Even Kasumi was smiling at the joke. Akane pursed her lips 
and reappraised her sister. Why was she acting like this all the sudden? Did 
Ranma put her into that good of a mood? Feeling a little childish she pulled 
down her lower left eyelid and stuck her tongue out.

	Soun watched the scene happily. It was nice to see them all getting along 
so well. Breakfast continued on, along with it's share of teasing and 
questioning, until it was time for the 'children' to leave.

	"It's nice to see Nabiki and Akane getting along so well, isn't it father?" 
Kasumi echoed Soun's thoughts as she cleaned up. They had enough money to 
hire servants to do such work, a hundred servants even, but Kasumi insisted 
on doing it herself. Just as her Mother had.

	"Yes. They are getting along well aren't they?" He paused, contemplating 
the reason. Nabiki had always been somewhat cold and indifferent to Akane. 
Treating her more like a guest in the house then family. Although Soun never 
knew for sure, he suspected it had something to do with the fact Akane had 
never been put through any of the training and had no knowledge of the 
family 'business'.

	The eldest of Soun's children sat down beside him, setting her cleaning 
aside. "Father..." She began, "When will you tell Akane?"

	"Tell her what?" The father replied evasively.

	Kasumi frowned. "You have to tell her soon Father. If you don't it will put 
Nabiki and Ranma in danger. As it is neither has had a chance to train their 
Shadows. And what about when they have children?" She sighed. "The longer 
you wait, the less likely it is that she will accept it."

	My, wasn't the table interesting? The wood such high quality!

	The ever peaceful and loving Kasumi glared at him. "It's time for her to 
grow up Father. She had sixteen years of innocence, now it's time for her to 
join the world."

	Soun retreated slightly under the glower. "But Kasumi-"

	"But nothing!" Her face turned hard and unforgiving. "You always protect 
her! Your pure little girl. So naive, so innocent. Sixteen years! Did you 
try nearly as hard to protect Nabiki? Or me?" Her eyes glistened lightly 
with unshed tears as she voiced years of suppressed thought and anger. There 
was silence as they looked at each other, Kasumi with anger, Soun with 
sadness. Noise slowly drifted in from outside the house, only faintly, but 
there none the less. People yelling to each other, wares being sold, a 
funeral procession taking place on their street. All of which went unheard 
by the created and the creator.

	"Akane is..." Soun broke the silence then faltered. "She is special...." He 
put his hands out placatingly but they were slapped away.

	"What is so special about her!?" Kasumi screamed, his words only having 
angered her more. "Everything is given to her, she never does a thing! She 
has no idea what her true lineage is, she has never had to kill!" Kasumi's 
eyes blurred over, as she continued speaking. "You aren't happy with what 
Nabiki is, happy with what I am, but it's your own fault! You made us the 
monsters!" A trickle of tears left her eyes, cascading down her face and 
falling onto her modest dress. "When did Akane ever have to prove her 
loyalty? When did you ever force her to be a Tendo? I killed my first love, 
a man who knew what I was and accepted it! What have you asked of her?!" She 
sniffled and wiped angrily at her eyes. "Nothing... Never anything from 
Akane...." She trailed off, her anger deserting her and leaving only pain 
and sadness. "Why?"

	Soun looked at his daughter's pain filled eyes and could say nothing, the 
prepared lie fleeing his mind even as he himself wished to flee from the 
pained gaze.  As the sound of mourning people began to fade into the 
distance, he stood and left his wife's daughter sitting alone. Kasumi 
watched the retreating figure and began to cry once more.


	Koji watched his step-father's procession fade into the distance and sat 
down with a sigh of relief, how long had he been standing?. As he sat on the 
curb a newspaper blew by and caught against his side, fluttering like a 
wounded bird. Taking the paper from its nest he cast his eyes across it for 
lack of anything better to do. His eye caught and held on some lettering for 
no more then a second when he dropped the paper and jumped away from it as 
if burned. The wind picked up again and the raven went on its way. "Damn 
obituaries." Koji ran a hand across his face, trying to shake off the cold 
feeling. He yelped in surprise as somebody ran into him.

	"Sorry." She was dressed modestly, rather tall, long brown hair, eyes 
slightly red (assumedly from crying), and the most beautiful creature Koji 
had ever lain eyes on.

	"Are you okay Mrs...?" The words came several seconds late as that he had 
been busy staring at her.

	"Kasumi, just Kasumi." She smiled at the man. It had been along time since 
anyone had looked at her like that.

	"Were you part of the funeral procession?" He found himself shuffling his 
feet awkwardly, as if he were a schoolboy about to ask someone on a date.

	Kasumi shook her head. "No." Her eyes grew concerned. "Who was it."

	"My step-father. Koji Shiro."

	Kasumi lifted a hand to her mouth, an "Oh my" escaping first.

	"Did you know him?" Koji didn't remember her... then again he didn't hang 
around the store that much so it wasn't surprising.

	"Yes, I usually bought my groceries from him." Her eyes softened. "I'm 
sorry, you must be so sad."

	Koji nodded. "Yeah, he was a good guy."

	Kasumi and he both stood there, the awkward silence not entirely 
uncomfortable.

	"Say, wanna go get some coffee or something?" Koji asked as he mustered up 
his nerve.

	Kasumi smiled brightly. "I would like that." The two started walking when 
Kasumi giggled. "I haven't even asked your name."

	"Koji. Koji Shiro." From far down the street the raven rustled it's wings, 
the black text calling its portent once again.


	Hiroshi followed Ranma out of the classroom and into the yard. It was 
lunchtime, a fact which Hiroshi was painfully aware of. School had gone 
uneventfully, a good portion of the students were still at home. 
Particularly those who had seen the murdered students first hand. Hiroshi 
would have stayed home too, but he wasn't sure if doing so would result in 
his death so the decision to go to school was made.

	"You know, your friend was there." Ranma's voice startled Hiroshi out of 
his reverie.

	"What?" The words hadn't registered due to shock.

	"Daisuke. He was at the gym." Ranma's voice was casual.

	Hiroshi gulped. "You didn't.. kill him did you Saotome-san?" After the 
words exited his mouth he quickly glanced around, nobody was within hearing 
range.

	"No, I didn't kill him. Consider it a favor." They continued to walk, 
approaching the tree.

	"What was he doing?" Hiroshi's curiosity and fear for his friend overrode 
his fear of Ranma. He hadn't seen him while Ranma was butchering the 
students, and he knew for a fact that he hadn't been one of the ones 
attacking.

	"Recording the fight."

	Hiroshi blinked once, then said no more.


	"Your sister is acting weirder then usual." One of Akane's friends told 
her. Akane looked over to Nabiki's tree, it was known as such due to the 
fact everyday without fail (well, everyday she was at school anyhow) Nabiki 
could be found sitting there, to see Nabiki holding a hand on Hiroshi's 
forehead.

	"Tell me about it." Akane turned away from the sight. She was sitting with 
a group of her friends about half the school yard away from said tree. Akane 
was popular at the school, being the wealthiest family in the district 
helped with this fact. For the most part her friends were really friends, 
but there were several who hung around her just for appearance's sake.

	Yuka, another of her friends, tore her gaze from the tree's general 
direction and spoke to Akane. "How did she get such a hunk like him!?"

	"You mean Ranma?"

	Yuka rolled her eyes. "No, Hiroshi." She sighed. "Of course I mean Ranma!"

	"That guy gives me the creeps." Said a girl to Akane's left.

	"No way! He's tall..." Yuka started.

	"Dark.." Said another.

	"And handsome!" Roughly 3/4 of the group finished. A round of laughter 
ensued.

	Akane took the moment to look uncomfortable. "He's not that tall."

	"Tall enough.." Yuka was staring at Ranma again. "Think Nabiki would be 
willing to sell him?"

	"Yuka!" Akane said, stunned.

	"I'm just kidding Akane... well mostly." She turned back to her friend. 
"Come on, don't tell me you don't like him!"

	"He's my sister's fiance!"

	"You didn't answer my question..." Yuka was grinning, sensing the kill. 
Akane didn't reply and soon she had fifteen girls bothering her.

	"Okay, okay!" Akane gave in after three minutes of the pleading, 
threatening, and general bothering. "He's kinda handsome.. and he's good at 
martial arts.. and strong...."

	"I knew it!" Yuka announced triumphantly.

	"But he's my sister's fiance!" Akane finished. Feeling like the whole thing 
was a relapse of that morning. And if she was right, the worst was yet to 
come.

	"Akane Tendo, I would date with thee!"

	There was a group wide groan at the voice. Akane's was decidedly false 
though. It wasn't often that Kuno bothered her at lunch, and for the first 
time ever she was thankful for it.

	The kendoist spoken of managed to wedge himself between two girls and 
present a rose to Akane, which she half heatedly took. "Hi sempai."

	"Akane my love, no need for such formality between lovers-" He patiently 
waited for Akane to withdraw her fist from his face. "But now I offer you 
your chance once again! Fight with me Akane Tendo!" He drew his bokken, 
nearly hitting a passerby in the head, and stood at a ready stance.

	Akane groaned and began to think that his interruption might not have been 
worth the price. Normally this wouldn't be a problem, but she was still 
aching from those bruises Ranma had given her the day before. Which gave her 
an idea.. "Tell you what Kuno, if you defeat oh.... him, " She pointed at 
Ranma as if he were randomly chosen, "then I'll go on a date with you!"

	"Truly?" Kuno stood up to his full height.  "It shall be done!!" With a 
battle cry Kuno ran across the school yard.

	Yuka nervously chewed on her lower lip. "I know you said Ranma was good... 
but so is Kuno."

	Akane shook her head. "Trust me, Kuno's nothing compared to Ranma. I was 
sparing with him yesterday and I couldn't lay a finger on him."

	Yuka didn't respond, watching as Kuno finished the sprint to Nabiki's tree.


	Ranma looked up at the battle cry. Some guy with a bokken was charging him, 
full speed. After he ran somebody over, literally, the students moved out of 
his way and a path cleared between him and Ranma. The gap closed and the 
one-sided battle commenced. Kuno swung his wooden sword horizontally at 
Ranma's head. Calmly Ranma raised his hand, catching the blade. As Kuno 
tugged and pulled, trying to get his sword back Ranma kicked him in the 
stomach, then pulled the sword from his grasp and smacked him over the head 
with its handle. With an experienced grace Ranma rotated the blade towards 
Kuno and was about to pin his foot to the ground when a hand on his arm 
stopped him.

	Nabiki, hand remaining on Ranma's arm, stepped in front of Kuno. 
"Tatewaki-kun, I would like you to meet Ranma Saotome. My fiance."

	Kuno's eyes widened at the words. "Nabiki-san! What wonderful news! My 
heart rejoices at your happiness!" Kuno straightened, still aching from the 
kick to the gut, and looked respectfully at Ranma. "Yes. He is mighty, 
perhaps even as mighty as I!" Kuno laughed then quieted as he noticed he was 
the only one doing so. This in itself wasn't unusual, but usually Nabiki 
would at least smile. This time she remained expressionless. "Are you well 
Nabiki-san?" He moved forward to look at her more closely, but she moved 
away. Ranma watched with an unreadable face, in turn being closely watched 
by Hiroshi.

	"Fine Tatewaki-kun. Just a bit tired." She inwardly groaned. This wasn't 
helping matters any. Ranma was ready to rip him apart now, whereas he would 
have settled for a broken bone moments ago.

	Kuno's face turned stricken. "Are you falling ill? Mayhaps I should send 
for the physician?"

	It was times like this Nabiki wondered if she had made the right choice oh 
so many years ago... "No, no, no. I'll be fine."

	A barely audible growl started in Ranma's throat as he watched the 
proceedings. Hiroshi blinked, but didn't remove his eyes from Ranma's. Ranma 
was getting very angry..

	Kuno looked at her seriously, then nodded. "T'would be best if you hurried 
to your noble estate when school has ended. The animal responsible for the 
killings yesterday is still loose."

	"Animal?" She laughed inwardly. Trust the police to be predictable. She 
felt Ranma's ki clench slightly and barely managed not to show concern.

	"Yes. The officers of the law believe that the attacks were done so 
brutally and with such strength it could be nothing less." He sighed 
dramatically. "Truly, it is the most base of creature's that resorts to 
killing." There was a loud snarl and he turned to look, but was halted by 
Nabiki suddenly tugging his arm.

	"I believe I'm starting to get a small headache, could you get me some 
aspirin?" She asked sweetly.

	"Of course Nabiki-san!" Kuno was off once again, all thoughts of Akane 
forgotten.

	"Who was that?" Ranma asked, tone deathly cool. If Nabiki didn't know Ranma 
would never hurt her, she would have been very worried.

	"Just the local moron..." She said causally, then did the mental equivalent 
of beating her head against a wall. There was no way Ranma would fall for 
that.

	"Since when do you drop your guard around anybody?" The cool tone of voice 
remained. Hiroshi looked away from Ranma eyes. He didn't know that level of 
mental pain existed.

	Oh kami-sama. She hadn't even noticed... "Ranma, it's not what it seems. 
Believe me."

	"Really 'Nabiki-san'?" He hissed. "Then just what is it?"

	"It's just... he's like a brother Ranma. Really it's nothing."

	Ranma's gaze hardened farther. "You should know by now that you can't lie 
to me." He turned his back to her and walked away.

	Nabiki bit her lower lip. He would listen later, but not until he had 
checked things out for himself. And if he did that, it could get... 
complicated. She glanced around the school yard. Everyone had stopped paying 
attention once Kuno had left. No debts were due till tomorrow either. She 
had a call to make.

	"Umm.. Tendo-san..." Hiroshi started to warn her.

	"Go away Hiroshi." She said without looking back. It was embarrassing to 
have someone like him listen in on her personal life.

	He gulped, then scurried off.


	"It must be hard, you're so young!" Kasumi was sitting at a table facing 
Koji.

	The man shrugged in response. "It's not that bad. I'm the youngest on the 
force, but they don't treat me much different."

	"Well you're very big." Kasumi blushed faintly. That was impolite of her.

	Koji grinned and scratched at the back of his head. "Yeah, guess I am. It's 
a Shiro trait." She thought he was big? His grandfather was eight feet tall, 
he had the Shiro height.

	"Your father wasn't that tall." Kasumi had a faintly puzzled (and cute) 
look on her face, unwittingly turning Koji's mind into a little pile of goo. 
When she saw the look he was giving her she demurely looked down at the 
table.

	Idiot! Stop gawking! What was she saying!? Umm.. I'm so big, Shiro trait, 
father! That was it! "Actually he wasn't a Shiro. Mom is... she's kinda 
headstrong." He shrugged his shoulders helplessly. "She forced him to take 
the name when they got married."

	Kasumi smiled and toyed with her long empty coffee cup. That sounded like a 
woman she would like to meet. An ornate clock in the restaurant chimed 
softly. Kasumi looked at the time and hurriedly stood. "I'm sorry to leave 
in a rush, but my sisters will be home soon."

	Koji looked at the clock, surprised. They'd been talking THAT long? But he 
didn't want her to leave yet. "Umm... Maybe I could. Uhh. Could walk you 
home?" He offered, nervousness returning.

	Kasumi raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you want to do that?"

	He nodded firmly, albeit slightly confused at the question, and was 
rewarded with a beautiful smile. He stood and held his hand out to Kasumi. 
The two walked out the door hand in hand.


	Akane yawned. She was soooo bored. Ten minutes of her history class 
remained, every second felt like an hour. She was partially tempted to leave 
(being from a wealthy and influential family had its benefits) but knew her 
friends would tease her about 'abusing her status'.

	"During this era the emperor was particularly feared. He had a group of 
elite assassins who would eliminate any threats to him or his position. 
Technology today is the only thing that keeps the current emperor from doing 
the same thing. Did you know..." The teacher droned on while the students 
ignored him. Akane found herself yawning again. Her teacher's paranoid 
ramblings lost entertainment value long ago. "You should pay more attention 
Akane." The teacher said, breaking from his normal routine. "After all, the 
assassins were rumored to be of the Tendo clan."

	"WHAT!?" Akane stood up angrily, smashing a fist into her desk and neatly 
breaking it in half. The students were divided between looking shocked and 
upset at the accusation, worried for the teacher, and scared of Akane.

	The teacher was looking nervously at Akane but continued. "In fact there 
are some who believe that the Tendo's still serve that function for the 
emperor, along with a secret group known as the Circle-" He cut off, 
swallowing nervously as Akane stalked toward him.

	"What did you say?!" Akane screeched at him. She knew he didn't 
particularly like her, but going out of his way to insult her family was 
more of an offense then could be tolerated.

	"Class dismissed!" The teacher said frantically. Akane was still glaring at 
him, upset, but reluctantly allowed herself to be pulled from the classroom 
by her friends.

	"Just ignore him Akane." Yuka patted her on the back. "You know how he is. 
Last week he accused the entire fifth period class of being government 
spies."

	"And before that he said Yuka's dad was really a foreign spy." Added 
another, causing Yuka to frown at the memory.

	Akane cooled down somewhat. It was true, he was always saying something 
stupid. She brightened. "At least we got out of class early!"

	The group of girls walked away laughing, not noticing as a man in a suit 
walked into the classroom they had just left.


	Ranma muttered angrily and rubbed his injured shoulder. Nabiki must have 
got every mage on the island guarding the archive. The source of his 
irritation stepped into view.

	"Calmed down any Ranchan?" Nabiki winced at the glare. "Don't be so angry! 
Really, it's not what you're thinking." She walked up to him and gripped one 
of his hands. "Please Ranma, don't be angry at me. I'll tell you tonight. I 
swear." Ranma's eyes narrowed. "Come on Ranma... don't be like this." She 
pressed herself against him, one hand against his chest and the other 
slipping its fingers between his. "Please?" She looked up at Ranma 
hopefully, then smiled as his fingers tightened around hers.

	"Okay." He said gruffly, anger dying in her pleadful look. "But if you 
ever.. EVER sic that many mages on me again," the glare had left his face, 
replaced by a more playful look, "I'm going to use your books for a private 
bonfire." She smirked.

	"It's good for you." Nabiki purred as Ranma's hand made its way from her 
stomach upward. "You never give them the respect they deSERVE!" The last 
part came out in a squeak as Ranma pinched her through the thin fabric 
covering her chest.


	Akane blinked. "I did not just see that." Akane was walking with Yuka.

	Yuka watched the couple standing next to the gate avidly. "Maybe you 
didn't, but I sure did."

	"Yuka!" Akane reprimanded her friend.

	Yuka just laughed. "See ya tomorrow Akane!" She waved and ran off to catch 
up with a group of girls.

	Akane sighed and finished walking the short distance remaining.


	"Then we go.. that way." Koji began to walk down a street.

	"Umm.. Koji-san? This way." Kasumi gently guided him down a street to the 
left, easily forgiving the navigational error. She was used to men losing 
their wits around her, not to brag of course. That would be unladlylike. 
"Koji-san.. you do know who I am don't you?"

	The man looked slightly confused, but nodded. She was Kasumi. She lived in 
a house with her father and two sisters, one of which was going to be 
married. They'd talked long enough for him to know that.

	Kasumi seemed greatly relieved by the nod. "I was just afraid... well you 
didn't seem to mind walking me home and most people.." She smiled and shook 
her head. "Nevermind." Her family name had scared off nearly everyone. In 
her entire life Kasumi had only been on five dates, three of which were with 
the same person. She had never dreamed a police officer of all people 
wouldn't care about that. At the sound of laughter Kasumi turned her head to 
see two children playing with a scarlet colored ball. The two were passing 
it back and forth as fast they could, attaining an impressive rate 
considering it was larger then a beachball. She slowed to a halt to watch 
them, as did Koji.

	"Cute." He said, grinning as the children started running and passing it at 
the same time.

	One of the kids looked up at the voice. The boy had dark black hair and a 
toy badge pinned to his shirt reading 'sheriff'. "Hey mister! Catch!" The 
boy lobbed it at Koji.

	Koji lifted his hands and caught the ball, unfortunately he did this a 
little too rough. The ball popped with a gunshot and forced Koji's head to 
snap backwards. Small pieces of the thin elastic material flew everywhere, 
even covering Kasumi in little bits which clung to her clothing and arms. 
Off balance due to surprise Koji tottered back and forth for a bit, finally 
giving in to gravity and falling onto his back.

	"Koji-san?" Kasumi bent down, ignoring the children's cries of anguish over 
their lost toy, and looked at the stunned officer. "Are you okay?" There was 
a small circular patch of the crimson material directly in the center of his 
forehead. She brushed it off gently, repeating the process with several 
other noticeable large pieces.

	Koji shoved himself up from the ground after making sure he could retain 
his balance. "Yeah." He laughed. "Just surprised me. You got some of that 
junk you." He flicked off the offending plastic. He saw Kasumi turn her head 
as he did so. "Something wrong?" A faint blush was his first response.

	"Your hands.."

	Koji looked down at his hands, which just happened to be on Kasumi's chest. 
He pulled them away as if bitten. The two awkwardly avoided each other 
gazes.

	The two children decided it would be a good time for them to demand he pay 
for their toy. Koji did so gladly, thankful for the interruption. With the 
children somewhat mollified and the remains of the ball on the street Kasumi 
and Koji continued the walk home.

	"Kids these days..."

****
	Ranma paused in his Kata. He stood still for a moment, then swiftly left 
the dojo. Following an instinct Ranma leapt onto the roof and swept the 
surrounding area with his eyes. All he saw was a man walking down the street 
and Kasumi entering the house. Slowly the feeling faded. Still uneasy he 
dropped back onto the ground and entered the dojo once more.


	Koji smiled as he walked down the road, rubbing his cheek. She had kissed 
him! Only on the cheek, but that was good enough for him. He continued 
walking several more yards then froze. There was something odd.. it felt 
like he was missing something. Koji glanced over his shoulder. No.. hadn't 
dropped anything. His eyes lingered on the house Kasumi had entered, then it 
hit him. He ran back to the gateway and read the sign.

	"Tendo Dojo?" Koji turned pale.
****

	Nabiki yawned and stretched out on Kasumi's bed, smiling at the feel of the 
silk sheets. Her sister's tastes occasionally rivaled her own. Nabiki had 
changed into her short-shorts and a T-shirt when she got home, and now was 
glad she had. She rubbed her legs against the sheets, imaging how they would 
feel in her Shadow form. The soft, smooth feel intensified a 
thousand-fold... she shivered at the very thought. Nabiki entwined her legs 
into the sheets, at the same time pulling them around herself. The sheets 
were still cold, slowly warming thanks to her body heat and felt nearly 
liquid. Nabiki really wanted some cold water.

	Kasumi opened the door to find her sister firmly tangled in sheets and 
laying on her back.

	There was only one thing for Nabiki to do. "Meow?"

	Kasumi burst into laughter. "Thank you, I needed that." Kasumi helped 
Nabiki untangle herself from the kittenish mess, hugging her when finished. 
Kasumi released her as Nabiki tensed up. "What's wrong."

	Nabiki shook her head. "Nothing, you just surprised me. It's been a long 
time since you hugged me."

	Kasumi folded her hands in her lap. "I suppose it has. It's been a long 
time since I've laughed like that too."

	Both were silent for a moment, recalling past times. "So what'd you want to 
talk about?" Nabiki asked, breaking the melancholy mood.

	"I talked to Father about Akane."

	"Really?" Nabiki had thought she would have had to do that. "What 
happened?"

	Kasumi sighed. "Nothing of course. He won't do anything to hurt his 
'special Akane'."

	Nabiki scoffed. "Naive is more like it."

	"Sometimes I can understand him." She looked down at her hands. "Akane is 
still innocent. She doesn't know what it's like. How it feels to take 
somebody's life. I can't look at my hands without seeing the blood..." She 
shivered and looked away from them. "I guess he doesn't want her to become 
monsters like us." She rubbed the palm of one hand as if trying to wipe it 
off.

	Nabiki shook her head. "We're not monsters."

	"Aren't we?" She looked at her sister sadly. "We certainly aren't human." 
She opened her hands and small sparkles blinked into existence above them. 
"Humans don't have this kind of power. They don't kill innocent people. They 
don't ruin lives." She clenched her hands.

	"Yes they do. Who do you think gives the orders?" Nabiki stood and faced 
the window. "Our Emperor does. The politicians, the savages, the wealthy, 
the powerful. We are just tools."

	Kasumi shook her head. "Anyone who gives such commands isn't human. But 
even they are better then us. Tools? Maybe. But we have a choice and are 
still willing to carry out the actions. Sometimes I wonder if we cause more 
evil then we stop."

	"Don't say 'we', Kasumi. You may have been given a job or two, but your 
hands are pure white compared to mine." Nabiki softly placed her hand on the 
window. The setting sun cast a deep red onto her body, bathing her in blood. 
"And as for being evil... I suppose I am." Her voice was resigned, a long 
realized fact finally spoken.

	"I never said that Nabiki! You aren't evil." Kasumi looked at her sister 
worriedly.

	"I am Kasumi. If a person does evil things then that makes the person evil, 
ne?" Nabiki smiled sadly, her voice becoming a mere whisper. "You want to 
know something even worse? It doesn't matter to me. It's all I know, all I 
can remember being." She closed began to close her hand, leaving smear marks 
on the window. It continued to tighten, crushing something only Nabiki could 
see. "What would I have been? To have never killed... Innocence... I can't 
picture myself like that. Without this power, what would I be? Just another 
girl... another pathetic, unknowing peasant."

	"But the they are happy. Can we say as much?"

	Nabiki smiled. "Ranma is my happiness. As long as I have him, I'll be fine. 
You know how that is."

	"The family name took Him away from me though." Kasumi felt the old 
depression returning, but it was held at arm's length by a certain someone.

	"You'll find another Kasumi. Daddy doesn't have a hold on you anymore, all 
your debts are paid. If you really wanted to you could just leave all 
together." She looked over her shoulder at her sister as she spoke.

	"What about you? Will you ever be free?"

	Nabiki gave a short, harsh laugh and returned her gaze to the window. "No. 
It's my duty to uphold the family tradition." She shrugged. "Each of us has 
a role in life. Mine is death."

	But it wasn't supposed to be Nabiki, it should have been mine. I wonder if 
you even remember... Kasumi looked closely at her sister. She had gotten the 
hardest life out of them all. The training Kasumi received paled in 
comparison to that of Nabiki's. She could still remember the mornings where 
she would awake to find Nabiki trembling and unable to move or speak, 
remaining like that for days or even weeks at a time. None of it had never 
been explained to her. Part of Kasumi didn't want to know.

	From outside the window there came a childish scream of surprise, followed 
by laughter. She saw Nabiki's gaze lock onto the source, a small smile 
playing at her lips and a hand moving to her stomach. She was in such a rush 
to bring another life into the world. Her own child. Kasumi didn't 
understand it.

	At a very young age Kasumi had decided never to have children, it was a 
decision she still stood by. It seemed a sin to create a soul into this 
world. Love and joy never outweighed the pain and agony. It was constant 
strife. Strife which, if what the church said held true, couldn't be solved 
even by the Reaper's touch. At least not for anybody in her family. It 
wasn't that Kasumi didn't want a child, she planned on adopting when the 
time came, but to make another suffer just to fulfill her own wants? She had 
done enough of that to last a lifetime.

	"I should go." Nabiki said at last, turning away from the sun. She smirked. 
"I bet Ranma could use a little company."

	Kasumi smiled a bit. "You two act like love-sick teenagers."

	Nabiki didn't miss the joke. "There is a reason for it. Most of the time we 
didn't see each other more then twice a month, sometimes even less then 
that. Whenever we did meet up we always made the most of our time." Another 
meaningful smirk. "Don't worry so much Kasumi, we're still getting used to 
the idea that one of us isn't going to be gone the next morning. We'll calm 
down," She headed out the door, "eventually."


	Ranma looked at the girl in front of him. It had obviously taken her a lot 
to put aside her pride and ask, which meant she would be dedicated. He 
wasn't too worried about breaking the contract, he doubted she would ever 
get that far. Nabiki would probably be grateful... why not? "Okay. I'll 
train you."

	"Really?" Akane asked happily. It was embarrassing to know there was a boy 
who fought better then her, but the fact he was her sister's fianc� helped a 
bit.

	"But there is one condition." He added as an afterthought, recalling past 
'accidents'.

	"What?"

	"No falling in love with me." He said firmly.

	"What!?" Akane screeched. "Why you... stupid... arrogant... BOY!" Akane 
spun around and stomped out of the dojo, slamming the door behind her.

	Ranma shrugged. He thought it had been a reasonable request.

	A pair of arms emerged from the shadows behind Ranma, wrapping themselves 
around Ranma. Slowly a body emerged, revealing itself to be Nabiki. "There 
you go again. You really don't understand us do you?"

	Ranma was unsurprised by her appearance. The 'hide in the shadows' trick 
was exactly that. A parlor trick. It was the first thing one was taught to 
detect in most 'schools'. "I do sometimes." He protested, turning to face 
her. He smirked. "You should know that."

	She smiled "You're not as good a charmer as you think Ranchan. And besides, 
that's not what I meant." Actually he was a very, very good sweet talker. 
But there was no way she would let him hear her say that.

	"Oh?"

	"You just made my little sister fall in love with you." Ranma looked at 
Nabiki curiously. She just smiled back. "Don't worry about it though." She 
slid one leg in-between his and leaned in closely. "We have business to 
attend to." Now where could she get some cold water...?


	Ranma looked at the nearly sleeping figure in his arms. He brought his hand 
gently across her smooth white skin, earning a weary smile from her. "I 
don't know why you wanted to use this form Nabi-chan. You tire so easily." 
He frowned concernedly. "And I'm afraid of accidentally hurting you." He 
traced a light bruise on her face.

	She snuggled closer to him, putting her lips to his in a gesture of love. 
"I feel more alive like this." Nabiki whispered softly, pure sounding voice 
not reaching past his ears. "I can feel the magic, I can taste it. It's how 
I've always wanted to be."

	Ranma found himself growing tired as well. He slid his hands lower along 
her body to a more comfortable position, electing a small shiver from 
Nabiki. "I'm glad you decided to talk. I was getting tired of trying to 
understand noises."

	Nabiki giggled a little, eyes dancing in amusement. "I think we both 
enjoyed the noises moments ago my love." She rested her head against his 
chest, golden hair fanning gently at the movement. "Ranma, let's get married 
soon."

	He raised an eyebrow, a habit which he'd picked up from Nabiki, and mulled 
it over for a moment. "Are you sure?"

	"Yes." She exhaled silently, blowing several strands of gold in the 
process, and relaxed against him. "I want it."

	"I know you do."

	If either had been asked what they felt at that moment, odds were neither 
would be able to reply. Peace, contentment, and happiness were rare for the 
two. For all three to take place at the same time had never happened before. 
But at that moment, at that place, and at that time the two found such bliss 
they would remember it for the rest of their lives. The moon looked on with 
a satisfied air, blessing the two lovers with its pale light through the 
open window. For this short time their sins were lifted, as was their past 
and future. They no longer had names or responsibilities, they were just two 
teenagers in a love that was pure and innocent. Slowly the two drifted off 
to sleep. Outside the crickets chirped their soft song while they could, for 
with the rising of the sun came the return of life.



	"So are you with me?"

	"This is insane! What if we're caught?"

	"We won't be. Now are you with me or not?"

	"I... I don't know. Will there be others?"

	"Yes."

	"How do you know they won't turn you in? How did you know I wouldn't?"

	"I have my ways."

	"..."

	"..."

	"Okay I'm in. But don't expect me to come running to the rescue if you get 
caught!"

	"Of course, of course. I only ask that you be ready for when the time 
comes."

	Well that's all I have so far. Had a nasty computer crash and lost a good 
20k, but I think having to re-write it helped in the long run. I tried a bit 
of foreshadow, but I don't know if I made it blatently obvious or too vauge. 
I'd really appreciate any C&C, particularly on the attempted foreshadowing. 
So if you got a bit of time on your hands tell me what'cha think eh? And as 
for me... I'm gonna go eat.

~Syithe
ssauthor@hotmail.com
http://members.xoom.com/archive.html


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